Improvement in self-closing bags for grain



M. .T'. WALSH.

SELF-CLOSING BAGS FOR' GRAIN, &c.

Patented June 27, 1878.

N. PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D. 04

MAURICE J. WVALSH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN SELF-CLOSING BAGS FOR GRAIN, &c.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 179,236, dated J nne 27, 1876 application filed September 23, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAURICE J. WALSH, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new Self-Closing Bag for Grain and other merchandise; and 1 do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification.

Thisinvention is more particularly designed for bags to be used in the shipment or transportation of grain; and its object is to obviate the necessity of sewing up or tying the mouth of the bag after filling, and to save the time occupied in sewing or tying. This saving of time is very important during the loading of a vessel from an elevator, and under other circumstances.

This invention consists in a bag which is made self closing, by having its mouth provided, as hereinafter described, with an elastic band, which is capable of expansion, to allow the entrance of the bagging spout of a grain-elevator or of any other filling device, but which, after the removal of the bag from the spout, or the spout from the bag, will contract and produce the closing of the mouth insuch manner as to confine the contents of the bag, and which affords facility for opening the mouth when it is desired to empty the bag, and also permits the bag, when empty, to be laid out flat for stowing away.

In the accompanying drawing, which exhibits a bag constructed according to my invention, Figure 1 is a side view of the bag, representing it as spread out flat for packing away empty. Fig. 2 is a side view of the bag, showing a filling-spout inserted into its mouth. Fig. 3 is a side view, showing the bag filled, and having its mouth closed by the elastic band. Fig. 4 is a top view, corresponding with Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section of the upper part and mouth of the bag, showing the month turned in after closing. Fig. 6 is a top view on a larger scale than Fig. 4, showing the mouth closed, but not turned in. Fig. 7 is a section of the mouth of the bag parallel with its face. Fig. 8" shows the elastic band detached from the bag.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre- Spending parts in the several figures.

The bag may be woven or otherwise made of canvas or other material in the usual or any suitable manner, and only differs from a common bag in the construction of its mouth. This month A might in some cases extend the whole width of the bag, but in the example represented it only extends a portion of its width. It is provided with a hem, a a, which may be made by turning in the edge to a suitable depth, or by sewing on a strip of cloth along the interior or exterior for the reception of the elastic band 13, of india-rubber or other material, which makes the mouth self-closing. This hem is left open at two opposite points, b b, where the mouth meets with or unites with the edges of the bag when laid out fiat, the openings being for the insertion of the elastic band B. The band consists, as shown in Fig. 8, of a strip or cord of india rubber, with a button, 0, atone en(l,and a hole or loop, (I, at the other end, or with any suitable fastenin g, for the purpose of uniting the two ends securely.

WVhen the bag is empty, and is laid out flat for packing away, the band B remains in one sideor half of the mouth, as shown in Fig. 7; but preparatory to the filling of the bag, the band is also run through the other half of the mouth, the whole of which is then gathered up on the band, with the ends of the latter protruding through one of the openings 1) b of the hem. The ends are then fastened together, and the mouth is gathered up and closed by the contraction of the bag, the fastening remaining opposite the opening I).

To fill the bag the mouth is pulled open and drawn over the mouth of the bagging spout 0t theclevator, or has any suitable spout inserted," and the bag is held tightly around the spout during the filling. When full, the bag is drawn ofi the spout, or the spout is drawn out from it, and the mouth immediately closes automatically, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 6, by the contraction of the band B, which keeps it closed firmly until it is required to be emptied. The mouth, after it has thus closed automatically, may be turned inward, as shown in Fig. 5.

To empty the bag, the button or other fastening is unfastened, and the band drawn into one side of the mouth, as shown in Fig. 7, and

the mouth is then allowed to open to its full I The elastic band B, with its fastening c (1, width, to enable the grain to drop out freely in combination with the hem to around the when the bag is invert-ed. The bag, when mouth of the bag, provided with openings bl), emp y, is in condition to be packed away fiat substantially as herein described. until again required for use.

'lo facilitate'theintroduction of the baggingspout into the mouth of the bag,, the said spout may be made capable of collapsion and expansion.

What 1 claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- MAUBIOE J. WALSH.

Witnesses:

HENRY '1. BROWN, BENJAMIN W. HOFFMAN. 

